Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has publicly revealed his decade-long battle with stage 4 melanoma, crediting an experimental immunotherapy drug for his survival. The 82-year-old billionaire disclosed his cancer journey during interviews for the upcoming Netflix documentary "America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys."
Experimental Treatment Success
Jones told The Dallas Morning News that he was "saved by a fabulous treatment and great doctors and a real miracle [drug] called PD-1 [therapy]." The Cowboys owner participated in clinical trials for PD-1 therapy, describing it as "one of the great medicines." He now reports being tumor-free following his treatment.
PD-1, or Programmed Cell Death Protein 1, represents a type of immunotherapy that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. According to the American Cancer Society, this treatment works by blocking PD-1, thereby enabling T cells to better identify and combat cancer cells.
Treatment Timeline and Procedures
Jones was diagnosed with melanoma in 2010 and began treatment immediately. Over the subsequent decade, he underwent four major surgical procedures, including two lung surgeries and two lymph node surgeries. The experimental PD-1 therapy was initiated near the end of this 10-year treatment period.
The Netflix documentary contains footage of Jones discussing his cancer treatments at MD Anderson cancer treatment center "about a dozen years ago," providing additional context to his medical journey.
Clinical Significance
Stage 4 melanoma indicates that skin cancer cells have metastasized to other parts of the body, representing the most advanced form of the disease. Patients with this diagnosis typically face a five-year survival rate of 35 percent, according to The American Cancer Society, making Jones's successful outcome particularly noteworthy.
Jones's case highlights the potential impact of immunotherapy clinical trials in treating advanced melanoma. His participation in experimental PD-1 therapy trials and subsequent tumor-free status demonstrates the therapeutic promise of this immunotherapy approach for patients with metastatic melanoma.
The revelation came during broader interviews about the Netflix series, which documents Jones's ownership of the Cowboys since 1989, including the team's three Super Bowl victories between 1992 and 1995.
